Stair-rail



3 sheets -Sheet S. HUNTER.

STAIR RAIL.

(No Model) No. 606,147. Patented June 21,1898.

Lilli!- (No Model.) I 3 SheetsSheet 2. S. H ER.

STA IL.

No. 606,147. v Patented June 21,1898.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

S. HUNTER.

STAIR RAIL.

No. 606,147- Patente'd June 21,1898.

' UNTTnn STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

SAMUEL HUNTER, OF LEEOHBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

STAlR-RAIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,147, dated June 21,1898.

Application filed April 1 2, 1 8 9 '7.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL HUNTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Leechburg, in the county of Armstrong and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in-StairRails, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct a staircase in which theexpensive connections and curves incident to the change of di rection ofthe stairs are supplanted by cheap, durable, and ornamental connectionswhich can be made by inexperienced workmen.

This invention consists of a cylindrical support and a hand-rail securedtogether, the hand-rail cut to conform to the support.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of astaircasing, showing the adaptation of my improvements. Fig. 3 is anelevation of a portion of the newelpost 1 and a hand-rail connectedthereto. Fig. 4 is an elevation of a portion of the newelpost 17 and ahand-rail connected thereto. Fig. 5 is a plan View of a returnconnection. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a right-angle connection. Fig. 7 isa front elevation of the newelpost 1 and the hand-rail connection. Fig.8 is an elevation of an easement, showing rail connection. Fig. 9 is aplan View of an easement. Fig. 10 is a vertical section of an easement,showing the connection of the parts. Fig. 11 is a lengthwise sectionthrough the return, showing the manner of connecting its two parts.

At-Figs. 1 and 2 is shown a complete staircase,in which'the variousconnections are shown.

The outside set of rails and their connections will be first explained.

The newel-post 1 is of any suitable outline form and located at thebeginning of the stairs. To its inner face is secured a cylindricalsupport 2 by a screw 3, entering the post, as shown at Fig. 7. Ahand-rail 4 of the required length to reach to the landing 5 has itsends grooved to conform to the cylindrical support 2. One end of therail is secured to the support, and a cylindrical easement 6 is securedto the other end of the rail. ,To the easement 6 is secured a rail 7,located in a horizontal plane, and to the other end of this rail issecured a right-angle connection 0011- Serial No. 631,783. (No model.)

sisting of two cylindrical portions, in this instance made in one pieceand located at right angles to each other, as shown at Fig. (5. A rail 9has one end connected to the rightangle connection 8 and is located atright angles to the rail 7 in a horizontal plane, and a rail 10 islocated at right angles to the rail 9 in a horizontal plane and securedto a rightangle connection, (not shown in the drawings, but being thesame as 8.) An easement 11 connects the rails 10 and 12, the latterextending upward, its end connected to a rightangle connection 13.

The inner set of rails consists of the two rails 14 and 15, joined to areturn 16 at the landing 5. The rail 14 extends downward and isconnected to a newel-post 17 by the semicylindrical support 13. (Shownat Fig. 4.) The upper end of the rail is secured to the right-angleconnection 19, and in the drawings a rail 20 connects the right-angleconnections 13 and 19.

Each end of the rails is connected to its support by the fasteningdevice shown at Fig. 10, consisting of the lag-bolt 21, passed throughan opening 22 in the rail into the support, and a recess 23 in the underface of the rail allows a nut 24 to be turned upon the projecting end ofthe bolt, securely clamping the parts together.

The return connection is shown at Fig. 5, being, in fact, a doubleeasement, to which the ends of two rails are connected and bothconnected to the same side at any proper angle, and is especiallyadapted for making the turn at the well of the casing. .This return iscomposed of two like parts, each having its outer end provided with arecess 26, closed by a cap, and their meeting faces having a recess andprojection connection 27. A bolt 28 passes through a central opening inthe parts,its head 92 located in the end recess of one of the parts andthe nut 30 located in the recess of the opposite part, by means of whichthe parts are firmly clamped together after being set up and properlyadjusted.

- The easement is employed when the rail continues in the samedirection, but at different angles or elevations, and the support shownat Figs. 3 and 7 holds the rail to one side of the newel-post, while thesupport shown at Fig. 4 allows the newel-post to be ICO located in lineWith the rail. The various rails employed in the make-up of thestaircase are supported by balusters 25, only a few being shown in thedrawings in order not to confuse the other parts.

In building a staircase the most expensive parts are the neWel-posts,which have heretofore been located at each change of direction of therail, except in some instances very expensive curves are employed wherethe rail returns, and as the neWel-posts are first set should a slightmistake be made in cutting the ends of the rails both as to length andangle the entire rail must be thrown away, While in my construction thelength is the only measurement and the ends of the rails are grooved outalike, being a segment of a circle of a size to lit the circumference ofthe connections, and can be located at any angle with respect to eachother Without previously determining the angle.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of two baluster-rails and acylindrical cross-head, the ends of the rails shaped to lit the same andbeing secured thereto on opposite sides of a medial transverse plane ofthe cross-head.

2. The combination of a support consisting of two cylindrical surfaceslocated at an angle to each other and a rail secured to each surfacehaving their ends cut to conform thereto.

8. The combination of two baluster-rails and a cylindrical cross-head intwo sections adjustably joined together, the ends of the rails beingshaped to fit the same and secured thereto, one to each section and bothlocated on the same side of the cross-head.

SAMUEL HUNTER.

Witnesses:

ANDRE\V GRINDER, A. J. ASHBAUGII.

